Dual film and still video photofinishing system using parallel dedicated magnetic tracks on film

ABSTRACT

A dual still video/film portrait system in which the film has a virtually transparent magnetic layer, the camera and the photofinishing system used to develop the film each having magnetic read/write heads and a processor for controlling data recorded and played back in magnetic tracks on the film.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 07/370,661, filed June 23,1990.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention is related to studio portrait systems in which a stillvideo image is captured simultaneously with the exposure of the portraitsubject on a frame of film for rapid proofing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Studio portrait systems in which the same scene is capturedsimultaneously as a still video image and on a frame of film arewell-known in the art. Such systems permit the customer to rapidly proofall of the frames without having to wait for the film to be developedand printed. References of interest in this field include U.S. Pat. No.4,805,037 to Noble et al. and assigned to the present assignee, U.S.Pat. No. 4,716,470 to Levine, U.S. Pat. No. 4,714,962 to Levine, U.S.Pat. No. 4,738,526 to Larish and assigned to AutoStudio Corporation,European Patent Application No. 0,196,009 to Ishii and assigned to CasioComputer Co., Ltd. and Japanese Patent Application No. JP/63-261,241assigned to Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd.

One problem with such systems is that rapid proofing ultimately requiresthat some correlation be maintained between the still video frame numberand the corresponding frame number on the film. Also, the customer'sresponses upon the rapid video proofing of each still video frameimmediately after the photo session need also to be recorded,correlating the response for each frame with the still video framenumber and, ultimately, with the film frame number. Customer responsesmay include the number of prints and any alterations such as cropping,zooming, tele, pan, etc.

Presently, while it is known to record information optically along thefilm edge adjacent each frame, such a recording technique suffers fromthe disadvantage that the information can only be recorded with theexposure of the film, and therefore is not easily supplemented.Moreover, such information is not available or retrievable from the filmuntil after the film is has been developed. Accordingly, such atechnique is not particularly helpful in tracking information that comesto light following the exposure of the film or finding such informationprior to development of the film. As one example, such information wouldinclude customer responses following a rapid proofing session of viewingthe still video frames.

As a result, in most cases such information is managed by manuallywriting it in a notebook, including the correlation between still videoframe numbers and film frame numbers and the customer the lattertechnique is that it requires manual labor on the part of the personmaintaining a notebook and is relatively slow, and moreover is notphysically tied to either the video tape or the film. Anotherpossibility would be to use the video tape or video storage medium asthe medium on which to store such comments. However, this information islikewise not physically tied to the particular film frame.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a reliablesystem for maintaining information concerning simultaneous film/stillvideo portraits in a rapid poofing system, in which the information foreach film frame is unambiguously correlated to each film frame in such amanner that it will not be accidentally associated with another filmframe.

It is another object of the invention to Provide the foregoinginformation system in which the information can be recorded or retrievedat any time before or after film exposure and before or after filmdevelopment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention is a dual still video/film portrait system in which thefilm has a virtually transparent magnetic layer, the camera and thephotofinishing system used to develop the film each having magneticread/write heads and a processor for controlling data recorded andplayed back in magnetic tracks on the film. The magnetic tracks extendparallel to the length of the film, each film frame having its own setof magnetic tracks which are in registration with or adjacent the filmframe, so that the information recorded therein is unambiguouslycorrelated with that film frame.

In one aspect of the invention, the still video frame numbercorresponding to the current film frame is automatically recordedthrough the magnetic head in the camera on the film in a magnetic trackadjacent the current film frame. Following the portrait session, thecustomer's comments responsive to a rapid proofing session of the stillvideo frames on a monitor are transcribed and magnetically recordedusing either the magnetic head in the camera or the photofinishingsystem or other apparatus. The comments, such as requests for a numberof prints, cropping and zooming or other alterations are recorded foreach frame in those magnetic tracks in registration with or adjacentthat frame. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, if aparticular comment or instruction is to be recorded in response to thecustomer's viewing a particular still video frame number, the processoradvances the film past the magnetic head, searching in a particularmagnetic track dedicated to the purpose of recording the still videoframe number on the film until the appropriate still video framecorresponding film frame. At that point, the customer information forthat frame is immediately recorded on the film through the magnetic headunder control of the processor. For this purpose a terminal or similardevice may be provided for communicating with the processor and enteringthe customer information.

In yet another embodiment, the magnetic recording head recordsinformation in many parallel tracks within in each frame, there beingsufficient tracks in each frame to record one still video framecorresponding to the photographic image recorded in the film frame. Inthis latter embodiment, the head is of the type well-known in the artwhich can record in multiple parallel magnetic tracks. Each still videoframe (captured from the still video imager at the time the film isexposed to the subject) is taken by the processor and transmittedthrough the record circuits to the magnetic head as the film is wound tothe next frame.

In one embodiment of the invention, a single lens reflex camera isemployed, the processor being connected to receive an electrical signalfrom the camera's shutter release button to actuate the still videoimager and controller. In another embodiment of the invention, the filmcamera and the still video camera are combined in a unitary housing, theprocessor directly controlling the film camera shutter, the film advanceactuator and the video controller in response to electrical signalsreceived from a shutter release button connected directly to theprocessor.

The photofinishing apparatus of the invention includes a magnetic headand playback circuits, video playback circuits and a still videomonitor, all controlled by a processor. The processor also controls thefilm advance mechanism of the photofinishing apparatus and a printexposure light source. In the preferred embodiment, the still videostorage media which recorded the still video images captured by thecamera is connected to the photofinishing system video playbackcircuits. When the film in the photofinishing apparatus is positioned ata certain frame thereof, the processor determines the correspondingstill video frame number by reading it from the appropriate magnetictrack through the magnetic head, and then commands the video playbackcircuits to retrieve the corresponding still video image from the stillvideo storage medium for display on a still video monitor prior toexposing the current film frame onto print paper. This process can beoperated in reverse, with the customer searching through the still videoimages for "just the right" image, and as soon as it is found, thephotofinisher advances the film while monitoring the appropriatemagnetic track location through the magnetic head until locating thefilm frame having the desired still video frame number recorded therein.

In an embodiment of the invention in which the cameras magnetic head hasrecorded in each film photofinishing processor simply plays back thecorresponding still video image through the playback magnetic heads,transmitting the data to video playback circuits for display on a stillvideo monitor.

The data is read by the magnetic heads as the film frame is advancedtoward the print exposure light source. The magnetic head may also readout tracks associated with the current frame, such as scene exposureconditions, camera parameters (aperture size, shutter speed) as well ascustomer comments and corresponding print order requests, if any.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a preferred dualvideo/film camera embodying one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a simplified schematic block diagram of another dualvideo/film camera embodying one aspect of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a simplified schematic block diagram of a photofinishingsystem embodying another aspect of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the film employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1,2 and 3, showing the location of multiple parallel magnetic tracksrecorded therein;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the film of FIG. 4, showing thelocation of the virtually transparent magnetic layer in the film; and

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram illustrating an order entry stationemployed in yet another aspect of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring first to FIG. 1, light 10 reflected from a subject to bephotographed is split into two beams 12, 14 by a beamsplitter or prism16. The beam 14 is gated by a shutter 18 to expose one frame on a stripof film 20 wrapped around a take-up reel 22. The beam 12 is reflected bya mirror 24 to a viewfinder 26 during those times that the film 20 isnot being exposed by the shutter 18. expose the film, a movable mirror28 pops up in the path of the beam from the mirror 24 to divert it toanother mirror 30 and thence to a still video imager 32. Accordingly, astill video image is captured from the beam 10 at the same moment animage is captured on the film 20 from the same beam 10. A shutteractuator 34 of the type well-known in the art synchronizes the flippingof the mirror 28 and the opening of the shutter 18. A film advanceactuator 36 of a type well-known in the art causes the take-up reel 22to wind the film 20 so as to bring the next film frame into registrationwith the shutter 18 after each exposure. The foregoing is governed by aprocessor 38 which activates the shutter actuator 34 and then the filmadvance actuator 36 in sequence each time a shutter release button 40 isdepressed by the camera user. In addition, the processor 38 controls avideo controller 42 controlling the operation of the still video imager32 and a still video storage device 44 in a manner well-known in theart. The still video storage device 44 may simply be a buffer memorywhich stores a still video frame for later magnetic recording on a tapeor disk or in magnetic tracks on the film itself. Alternatively, thestorage device 44 may itself be a video tape or disk recorder. In oneembodiment, the still video storage device 44 includes ananalog-to-digital converter and a video frame store digital memory.

The film 20 is distinguished by a virtually transparent magnetic layertherein. Preferably, the virtually transparent magnetic layer isseparate from the photosensitive emulsion layer. A magnetic record head50 having a magnetic gap closely adjacent one surface of the film 20magnetically records signals produced by record circuits 52. Thesesignals are responsive to information or data transmitted by theprocessor 38 to the record circuits 52. In accordance with one method ofthe invention, the processor 38 keeps track of or itself assigns a stillvideo frame number to each image captured in the still video storagedevice 44. Such a frame number is typically recorded in the still videostorage device along with the video image itself. The processor 38transmits this still video frame number to the record circuits 52 justas the film 20 is wound by the take-up reel 22 toward the next frame. Asthe film 20 is thus transported past the head 50, the head 50magnetically records the still video frame number in a location adjacentthe corresponding film frame.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1, the location of the shutter 18 may bechanged so that the shutter interrupts the beam 10 before it reaches thebeamsplitter 16. In this embodiment, the movable mirror 28 would bepermanently positioned at its dashed line position illustrated in FIG. 1while the viewfinder 26 would be eliminated. The advantage of shutter 18not only gates the light to the film but also gates the light to thestill video imager 32.

In yet another embodiment of FIG. 1 the shutter release button 40,rather than the processor 38, controls both the shutter actuator 34 andthe film advance actuator 36, as indicated in dashed line. In thisalternative embodiment, the processor 38 responds to an electricalsignal from the shutter release button 40 in actuating the videocontroller 42. It also monitors the electrical signals from the shutteractuator 34 and the film advance actuator 36 so as to be able to respondin case of an error, such as the failure of the shutter actuator to openthe shutter 18 and failure by the film advance actuator 36 to advancethe film 20 to the next frame.

Referring to FIG. 2, in another preferred embodiment of the invention,light 100 reflected from a portrait subject to be photographed entersthe beamsplitter 104 to be split into two beams 106, 108. The beam 106enters through a single lens reflex camera shutter assembly of the typewell-known in the art, comprising the shutter 110, a movable mirror 112,a viewfinder mirror 114 and a shutter actuator 116. The shutter actuator116, responding to either an electrical signal from a processor 118 or(in a simpler embodiment indicated in dashed line) an electrical signalfrom a shutter release button 120, opens the shutter 110 for apredetermined exposure time to a predetermined aperture size,simultaneously flipping the mirror 112 from its solid line position toits dashed line position so as to expose a frame on a strip of film 122wrapped around a take-up reel 124. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the processor 118, in response to an electrical signalreceived from the shutter release button 120 directly controls theshutter actuator 116, as indicated in solid line. In an alternativeembodiment of the invention, as indicated in dashed line, the shutterrelease button 120 directly controls the shutter actuator 116 and a filmadvance mechanism 126 of the type well-known in the art. In thisalternative embodiment, the shutter release button 20, the shutteractuator 116, the film advance device 126, take-up reel 124, the shutter110, the movable mirror 112, the mirror 114 and the viewfinder 115 areall part of a standard single lens reflex {SLR; camera whose lensassembly (not shown) is integrated with the shutter 110 and faces thebeamsplitter 104 so as to receive the split beam 106.

In either the preferred or alternative embodiments of FIG. 2, theprocessor 118 performs in exactly the same manner as the processor 38 ofFIG. 1 to control the video controller 142 governing the video imager132 and the still video storage device 144. Specifically, the processor118 of FIG. 2 causes the video imager 132 to capture the current videoframe from the beam 108 under control of the video controller 146 in thestill video storage device 144. At the same time, the processor 118causes a sequential still video frame number to be assigned to andrecorded with the still video image stored in the device 144. As thefilm strip 122 is wound on the take-up reel 124 to the next film frame,the processor 118 transmits the still video frame number to recordcircuits 152 for recording by magnetic heads 150 in the virtuallytransparent magnetic layer in the film strip 122. As in the embodimentof FIG. 1, the processor 118 may, in addition, magnetically store otherinformation along with the still video frame number on the film 122,such as, for example, customer order information, scene exposureconditions, shutter speed, aperture size, etc., which could facilitatethe proper development and print-exposure of the particular film frame.

The photofinishing apparatus of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 3.It includes a print exposure light source 200 of the type well-known inthe art, a film advance mechanism 202 of the type well-known in the art,and a take-up reel 204 around which the film 122 is wrapped so as totransport individual frames past the print exposure source 200 in serialsequence. The system further includes a magnetic head 206 and playbackcircuits 208 connected thereto. A processor 210 controls the filmadvance mechanism 202, the print exposure light source 200 and theplayback circuits 208. In addition, the system includes video playbackcircuits 212, a still video storage device 214 and a still video monitor216. The processor 210 determines the corresponding still video framenumber for each film frame on the film strip 122 by reading it throughthe magnetic head 206 from the magnetic tracks adjacent the particularfilm frame about to be exposed by the light source 201. The processor210 transmits the still video frame number to a still video storagedevice 214 to retrieve the corresponding still video frame for displayon the still video monitor 216. Furthermore, any comments recorded inthe magnetic tracks adjacent the current the head 206 and displayed onthe still video monitor 216 or utilized in any other fashion. Suchcomments may, for example, include the number of prints to be made ofthe particular film frame, the camera exposure parameters or the sceneexposure conditions at the time the image was captures. The operator mayutilize the information to optimize the exposure of the print paper 220to the image on the current film frame or to print the correct number ofprints with the correct print size, magnification or aspect ratio, asmay have been specified by the comments magnetically recorded on thefilm adjacent the current film frame.

Many schemes for recording the parallel magnetic track on the film maybe used in connection with the apparatus previously described inconnection with FIGS. 1-3. FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one way of recordingthe magnetic track in the magnetic layer in the film. Referring to FIG.4, the film 400 is composed of a series of periodic frames 400a whichare sequentially exposed by the camera shutter. A series of perforations425 may lie along one or both edges of the film outside the image framearea 400a. Parallel magnetic tracks containing magnetically recordedinformation pertaining uniquely to a particular film frame 400a arelocated in the magnetic track locations labeled C0, Cl, C2, C3 in FIG.4. The tracks C0-C3 lie along the periphery 400b, 400c and outside ofthe image frame 400a, and may therefore be read and recorded in bymagnetic heads without significant risk of the magnetic heads damagingthe film emulsion layer within the image frame 400a. Each of the tracksC0-C3 is recorded in by the magnetic head 50 of FIG. 1 or the magnetichead 150 of FIG. 2 and is played back by the head 206 of FIG. 3. In afirst embodiment of the invention, none of the heads 50, 150 or 206contacts the image area 400a but is restricted to the edge peripheryregions 400b, 400c along each side of the frame 400a. Magnetic headscapable of recording in parallel magnetic tracks singly orsimultaneously are well-known in the art and could be employed here toachieve the recording of the parallel tracks C0-C3 of FIG. 4.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, additional tracks F00-F29are carefully recorded in the image frame 400a in such a manner that themagnetic heads never damage the film emulsion layer during recording orplayback. In this latter embodiment of the invention there are enoughtracks associated with each frame 400a to record an analog color videosignal (such as an NTSC video signal) comprising both fields of thecorresponding still video frame. In this embodiment, the processor 38 ofFIG. 1 receives the signal corresponding to the still video imagecaptured concurrently with the exposure of the current film frame andtransmits this video signal through the record circuits 52 and the head50 for recording in tracks F00-F29 in the film strip 400 of FIG. 4.

Magnetic recording in parallel dedicated magnetic tracks on film isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 255,693 filed Oct. 7, 1988by Robert Paul Cloutier et al., and entitled "Film Information ExchangeSystem Using Dedicated Magnetic Tracks On Film" assigned to the presentassignee and in the copending U.S. Pat. applications cross-referencedtherein. These applications teach the recording and playing back of datain the parallel magnetic track format illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates the location of the various layers in the film strip400, including the base layer 422, the film emulsion layer 420, thevirtually transparent magnetic layer 410 and a protective layer 415.

In recording the still video frame (signal) in the parallel magnetictracks which are in registration with the current film frame, either thefilm or the head may be transported back and forth as the head recordsin successive ones of the plural parallel tracks, the beginning of thevideo signal being recorded at the beginning the first track and the endof the video signal being recorded at the end of the last track,beginning at the top of the film frame and ending at the bottom thereof,as one example.

In the foregoing description, all customer comments and orderinstructions are recorded magnetically on the film, including thoseinstructions received after exposure of the film. This may entail anundesirable amount of film handling, particularly in the case offrequent modifications to the order by the customer To reduce filmhandling, a separate order entry station 400 of FIG. 6 is provided, inaddition to the camera 410 of FIG. 2 and the photofinishing system ofFIG. 3. The order entry station includes magnetic reading and writinghardware and a storage medium such as a magnetic disk or tape. Themagnetic heads in either the camera 410 of FIG. 2 or the photofinishingsystem 420 of FIG. 3 play back from the film all of the information ordata (such as customer order instructions, video frame number, etc.)already recorded on the film, the information being transmitted to theorder entry station 400 for magnetic storage. At any time, theinstructions stored in the order station 400 may be modified in anyfashion as frequently as desired to generate a new instruction. Justbefore the film is to be printed in the photofinishing system 420, theorder entry station plays back the new or modified instructions it nowstores, which are transmitted to the photofinishing system 420 forrecording on the film. In this manner, the customer may make manyseparate changes in the instructions recorded on the film withoutrequiring the film to be handled each time. Ultimately, the originalinstructions are erased from the film as the new instructions arerecorded prior to making prints.

While the invention has been described as employing magnetic tracks onfilm adjacent each film frame for recording certain information such asthat correlating the film frame to a still video frame number, customerorder information, scene exposure condition and the like, otherinformation not specifically mentioned above may be recorded therein aswell, in accordance with the invention. Furthermore, while the recordingof information has been disclosed herein as occurring mainly in thecamera apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 or FIG. 2, recording may alsooccur in the photofinishing system of FIG. 3 or at any step prior to theactual exposure of the print paper 220. The advantage is thatinformation recorded at the time of film exposure to the portraitsubject is immediately available to be read back, corrected orsupplemented at any time prior to or after development of the film andprior to or after the making of the prints. Thus, following exposure ofthe film, a customer viewing the still video images may cause hisselections or instructions to be recorded magnetically on the film priorto development or printing. This may save unnecessary printing,particularly if the instructions exclude certain frames from printing.Furthermore, information regarding the number of enlargements, the size,cropping, pan or zoom may also be recorded at any time prior to or afterthe making of prints from each frame. Thus, the invention is versatileand is readily adapted to individual needs.

Accordingly, while the invention has been described in detail byspecific reference to preferred embodiments thereof, it is understoodthat variations and modifications may be made without invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A photofinishing system comprising:a strip offilm having a virtually transparent magnetic layer therein; a strip ofprint paper; light source means for exposing an individual image framein said film onto said print paper so as to generate a print thereby;processor means; magnetic head means for communicating informationbetween said processor means and said magnetic layer in said film; andstill video playback means connected to said processor means, wherebysaid processor means responds to information communicated by saidmagnetic head means to correlate a still video image retrieved from saidvideo playback means with a corresponding frame in said film.
 2. Thephotofinishing system of claim 1 wherein said strip of film furthercomprises a plurality of frames bearing photographically exposed imagestherein and a plurality of magnetic tracks in said magnetic layer, saidplurality of magnetic tracks being near respective ones of saidplurality of said exposed frames, whereby each one of said magnetictracks is physically associated with one of said exposed frames, whereinsaid information communicated by said magnetic head means between saidprocessor means and said magnetic layer in said film comprisesinformation concerning each individual one of said photographicallyexposed frames and is recorded in the corresponding ones of said tracks.3. The photofinishing system of claim 2 wherein said still videoplayback means stores individual still video frames capturedcontemporaneously with the exposure of respective ones of said frames onsaid film, and wherein said information communicated by said magnetichead means between said processor means and said magnetic layercomprises information correlating respective ones of said film frameswith respective ones of said still video frames.
 4. The photofinishingsystem of claim 3 wherein said information comprises a still video framenumber individually recorded in respective ones of said magnetic tracksadjacent corresponding individual ones of said photographically exposedfilm frames.
 5. The photofinishing system of claim 4 wherein saidmagnetic head means senses a still video frame number in a magnetictrack adjacent one of said film frames prior to said frame being printedon said print paper, and wherein said processor means causes said stillvideo playback means to retrieve a still video image corresponding tosaid still video frame number.
 6. The photofinishing system of claim 4wherein said still video playback means communicates a still video framenumber to said processor means and wherein said processor means causessaid film to be scanned by said magnetic head means so as to find a filmframe having an adjacent magnetic track wherein said still video framenumber is recorded.
 7. The photofinishing system of claim 1 wherein saidtransparent magnetic layer comprises a plurality of magnetic tracksassociated with an individual frame in said film, said magnetic tracksstoring a magnetically recorded signal representing a still video framecorresponding to an image photographically exposed in said film frame,wherein said still video playback means retrieves said still video framefrom said magnetic track whenever said film frame is poised for printingon said print paper by said light source means.
 8. The photofinishingsystem of claim 1 wherein said still video playback means comprises astill video magnetic playback device comprising a video tape or disk. 9.The photofinishing system of claim 1 wherein said informationcommunicated by said magnetic head means between said processor meansand said magnetic layer in said film comprises at least one of a stillvideo frame number, a print order instruction, a crop instruction, azoom instruction, a delete instruction, or a frame format instructionsuch as tele or pan.